After being sent back from the light, Alona Dare – former homecoming queen, current Queen of the Dead – finds herself doing something she never expected: working. Instead of spending days perfecting her tan by the pool (her typical summer routine when she was, you know, alive), Alona must now cater to the needs of other lost spirits. By her side for all of this – ugh – “helping of others” is Will Killian: social outcast, seer of the dead, and someone Alona cares about more than she’d like.

Before Alona can make a final ruling on Will’s “friend” or “more” status, though, she discovers trouble at home. Her mom is tossing out Alona’s most valuable possessions, and her dad is expecting a new daughter with his wicked wife. Is it possible her family is already moving on? Hello! She’s only been dead for two months! Thankfully, Alona knows just the guy who can put a stop to this mess.

Unfortunately for Alona, Will has other stuff on his mind, and Mina, a young (and beautiful) seer, is at the top of the list. She’s the first ghost-talker Will’s ever met—aside from his father—and she may hold answers to Will’s troubled past. But can she be trusted? Alona immediately puts a check mark in the “clearly not” column. But Will is – ahem – willing to find out, even if it means leaving a hurt and angry Alona to her own devices, which is never a good idea.

In this second book in the Ghost and the Goth series it’s The Ghost Whisperer vs Ghostbusters. In The Ghost and The Goth,  we are introduced to Alona and Will who have decided they are going to help the ghosts instead of trying to ignore or fight with them. It’s the best of both worlds, that is until in book 2 we are introduced to Mina. While Alona and Will are on a mission in an old haunted house to help Mrs Ruiz cross over, they have just walked into the middle of a robbery and Mrs Ruiz is pissed off. Mina appears with her metal box contraptions and light stick that saves them from the dangerous situation…for now. Mina works for a secret ghost containing group only known to Will as the “Book Group”. They knew Will’s father and they may hold the answers to why he committed suicide years ago. Alona is not happy with the introduction of Mina into Will’s life, and her resulting decisions will change all of their lives forever.

Stacey Kade has a fantastic way of bringing us into the characters’ lives. They are well written, solid characters and the voices match those of the current day teen exactly. The rotation of the chapters from Alona’s perspective to Will’s is ideal to help portray the different views on the dead vs the living. It also helps with the pace of the story keeping in all of the interesting details with very little down time between events.

I am hoping in the next book to see some more conflicts between the two ideas of helping the ghosts cross over peacefully, or not giving them a choice and containing them just for existing. I personally would like to see them work out a mixture of both ideas. And I’m still in a little bit of a shock over what Alona did in this book and am very interested to see what happens in the next chaper of her life. I am growing to love both of these characters very much and maybe they really do have a chance to be together forever. That is, if the “book group” doesn’t interfere first.

Stacey Kade – Queen of the Dead

Hardcover, 266 pages
Published May 31st 2011 by Hyperion Book CH
ISBN 1423134672 (ISBN13: 9781423134671)

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Yara and her friend Cherie are transferring to Pendrell school. It so happens that Yara comes from a Waker family. Her family for generations have been able to see ghosts and help them cross over. Yara is still unwilling to accept her gifts and the responsibilities that come along with it, but her friend Cherie would do anything to have Yara’s gift, and Cherie has trained with Yara’s grandmother (Vovo) for years.

Cherie has been able to talk Yara into going to Pendrell with her, both knowing very well that the school is known to be haunted. Soon Yara finds out that Cherie has managed to also score them the dorm room, known to have the most ghostly activity throughout the school’s history.

What I appreciated the most about this book is the friendships that the characters have with each other. You can tell Cherie and Yara have been friends for a long time, they know each other’s quirks and care for each other deeply. As the girls start to date, the love interests also hold more than just a physical attraction, but friendship and trust. The dialogue and banter throughout the book is light-hearted and funny. Yara is one to wear her heart on her sleeve and you never have to guess what she’s thinking. One of my favorite parts is when she hurls her chemistry book at Brent’s head for mouthing back to her and pissing her off.

After settling into school Yara soon finds out that she has the ability to spiritually leave her body and wander around the campus. She also finds out that she is not the only person who can do so, and her new abilities draw danger closer. There is something weird going on behind the walls of Pendrell and Yara may be the only person who can rescue the school from the evil spirits…if she survives.

Intrinsical is one of those books that I have been recommending to my friends. I was so impressed with this story that I fan-girled the author over Twitter and never miss one of her stops into my town. It had all of those elements in it that make a great young adult novel. There is the boarding school setting, the BFF and the cute boy crush. With Intrinsical you get the added elements of ghosts and magic. A highly enjoyable read for me and have purchased more than one copy of it myself.

Hardcover, 304 pages
Published August 20th 2010 by Pendrell Publishing (first published August 17th 2010)
ISBN 0982729707 (ISBN13: 9780982729700)
More info here.

Series The Yara Silva Trilogy #1

Book summary

The day Louisiana teenager Rory Deveaux arrives in London marks a memorable occasion. For Rory, it’s the start of a new life at a London boarding school. But for many, this will be remembered as the day a series of brutal murders broke out across the city, gruesome crimes mimicking the horrific Jack the Ripper events of more than a century ago.
—
A much anticipated novel from Maureen Johnson, I held high hopes of seeing her venture into supernatural mystery. I knew from previous books that this author can really keep the reader’s interest and has very relatable to characters. I am very excited to say that she does not disappoint!

It took me some time to get into the book; there was a lot of filler about the main character, her family, her life and the new school she was attending. As this is the first in a trilogy, it made more sense to me to have the extra details in there to set up the whole series. I started to really get into the story about halfway in, when we see the Ripper set his eyes on Rory.

I felt that Rory’s character kind of holds back and I hope to see her open up and become stronger throughout the series. But she is definitely brave and you will find yourself rooting for her. As Rory delves deeper into the Ripper mystery and her connection to it, the story becomes more intense and gripping. I was pleased to see that the murder scenes are not too shy on the details. You get enough info that you can picture the scene, but not make your stomach turn.

I have to give major props to all the details and research that went into this story. It was very appreciated and noticeable. I really enjoyed the addition of ghosts and the secret ghost police. The combination of real life with the supernatural worked well. The thing I appreciated the most, from the beginning of the story, was the lack of drama and gossip. The characters were so reasonable when it came to student interactions. I was just not ready to read another book that had over the top drama with a new girl, in a new country, at a new school. I know you have all heard that one before! This story takes it to a level where sometimes it’s just normal that people can get along, even with a whole new list of social rules to follow.

Even though I have yet to read all of her books, Maureen Johnson has never failed me. At this point I would recommend any of her books. This by far is one of my favorites by her—she knows how to tell an interesting story.

Soon “Rippermania” takes hold of modern-day London, and the police are left with few leads and no witnesses. Except one. Rory spotted the man police believe to be the prime suspect. But she is the only one who saw him. Even her roommate, who was walking with her at the time, didn’t notice the mysterious man. So why can only Rory see him? And more urgently, why has Rory become his next target? In this edge-of-your-seat thriller, full of suspense, humor, and romance, Rory will learn the truth about the secret ghost police of London and discover her own shocking abilities.

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The Name of the Star—Maureen Johnson

Hardcover, 370 pages

Expected publication: September 29th 2011, by Putnam

Series: Shades of London #1

Description from book:

Maddie lives in a world where everything is done on the computer. Whether it’s to go to school or on a date, people don’t venture out of their home. There’s really no need. For the most part, Maddie’s okay with the solitary, digital life-until she meets Justin. Justin likes being with people. He enjoys the physical closeness of face-to-face interactions. People aren’t meant to be alone, he tells her.
Suddenly, Maddie feels something awakening inside her-a feeling that maybe there is a different, better way to live. But with society and her parents telling her otherwise, Maddie is going to have to learn to stand up for herself if she wants to change the path her life is taking.
In this not-so-brave new world, two young people struggle to carve out their own space.

Maddie is living a very comfortable life. She has plenty of friends, she always has something to keep herself busy and does not want for anything. The only catch is that her life is lived on the computer; her “friends” know her only by screen names and video chatting is as close as she gets to seeing other people. The year is 2060 and  the toll that violence has taken on the schools and society in general has driven everybody inside.

Maddie’s father is the one who has developed the whole curriculum for Digital School. He is a very strict, revered and wealthy man. Her mother, on the other hand, clings to more classical ideas of life and friendship and tries to instil in Maddie the knowledge of what it means to actually meet new people.

One day, a study buddy unexpectedly invites Maddie to meet him IRL (In Real Life); and, after overcoming some anxiety, she decides to just do it. That decision and her introduction to Justin takes Maddie on an adventure into a whole new world.

Looking at the cover, you would never expect to find such an amazingly fast-paced, subtly dystopian novel. The novel features futuristic cars and technology; they are very intriguing, and it is exciting to think about them as possibilities for our own future. The romance and interaction between Maddie and Justin was actually a very nice change from the other books I have read recently. We actually see a girl that is very nervous about how to even approach the subject. It’s painfully obvious that her  lack of real dating experience and interaction with other people is emotionally stressful and confusing.

On the other hand, Justin really has a bigger plan that has been put into action upon their meeting, and his selfless actions and decisions are for the greater good. There is something much bigger than the two of them happening, but they are the key to getting it to work. His bigger plan is what leads to some very frustrating and irksome scenes between the two romantically.

In today’s world, where our lives our spent on computers, tablets, and smartphones, this book spoke to me on a personal level. It is very similar to what I imagine the world my grandchildren will be living in, in the near and believable future.

I suppose the cover represents the idea that you cannot keep life contained. A flower inside a jar cannot grow or live for very long without the nurture of nature.

Awaken is one of my favorite reads of the year, very captivating, emotionally frustrating and eye opening.

Awaken—Katie Kacvinsky
Hardcover 320 Pages
Published May 23, 2011 — Houghton Mifflin Books for Children
ISBN 0547371489 (ISBN13: 9780547371481)